Charlotte stopped in front of the large gate of the estate.
The gate stood tall and wide, its iron bars thick and strong, almost like the walls of a prison.
Yet, it looked nothing like one.
Fine carvings ran along the surface, and the metal shone softly under the morning light.
It felt grand, almost welcoming, rather than cold or harsh.
Beyond it, the path stretched deep into the estate, lined with trees that moved gently with the breeze.
Beside Charlotte stood Elena.
Her posture was straight, but there was a quiet tension in her shoulders.
Her hands were lightly clenched in front of her, as if she was holding back the excitement rising inside her.
Her eyes remained fixed on the gate, calm on the outside, but filled with anticipation.
It had been a long time, and even someone as composed as her could not stay completely unaffected.
On the other side stood Edward, and unlike the others, he made no effort to hide what he felt.
He kept pacing back and forth, his steps uneven, sometimes quick, sometimes slow.
His hands moved as he walked, brushing through his hair or folding and unfolding at his sides.
His face showed everything clearly, excitement, worry, impatience.
It had been too long since he last saw his father, and the questions in his mind only made it worse.
He wanted to know everything about the war, every detail, every moment.
Salena stood near him, watching quietly.
Her expression was calm, her eyes soft as they followed his movements.
She did not rush him, nor did she interrupt right away.
She simply observed for a moment, letting him walk, letting him feel.
Then, when his pacing did not stop, she finally reached out.
"Calm down," she said gently, her voice soft and steady.
Her fingers wrapped around his hand, stopping him mid-step.
"Why are you so excited like a child?"
Edward paused, clearly not expecting that.
He blinked and looked around as if trying to find someone else she might be talking about.
"Who…?" he asked, a little confused. "You mean me?"
"Yeah," Salena nodded, pulling him slightly closer so he would stop moving.
"Stand still. You aren't a child."
Edward let out a small breath, though the restless energy in him did not disappear completely.
Still, he stopped pacing, his hand remaining in hers as he tried to calm himself.
From the side, Elena watched them quietly.
Her eyes softened just a little as she observed Edward.
He really hadn't changed much since he was young.
Back then, she would have been the one to stop him, to calm him down with a few words.
But now…
She let out a soft chuckle under her breath.
Now she didn't need to do anything.
Her gaze shifted back to the gate, and her expression slowly warmed again.
The excitement returned, quieter this time but deeper.
It had been a year and a half since she last saw her husband.
A long time filled with worry, waiting, and silence.
Now, finally, the war was over, and the people she cared about were returning.
Her son… her husband… and her father.
Even though her father had already returned earlier to the Sant estate, the feeling of relief still remained.
Knowing they were all safe brought a kind of peace she had not felt in a long time.
A little distance away from them, Vikel stood quietly.
His posture was relaxed, his hands resting behind his back as he looked toward the gate.
His face remained calm, but there was a hint of tiredness in his eyes.
The past years had not been easy for him.
Since the war began, he had taken responsibility for managing the entire estate.
With his son away on the battlefield for seven long years, everything had fallen on his shoulders.
It was not a small task.
Every decision, every problem, every responsibility had passed through him.
Now, at last, it was coming to an end.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
'I will finally be able to rest…'
His thoughts moved slowly as he looked at Charlotte. His gaze softened.
'I hope Vivian takes over properly once he returns… then everything can be shared. And I…'
His smile grew just a little.
'I can spend my time with my great-grandchildren.'
Charlotte's condition made it clear. The child would arrive soon.
The thought alone brought him quiet joy, something simple and warm after years of burden.
Meanwhile, Charlotte herself stood completely still, but her mind was far from calm.
Her eyes remained on the gate, but her thoughts had already wandered elsewhere.
'I didn't think he would return so soon…'
A small smile formed on her lips, her eyes shining with excitement.
'And once he returns…'
Her fingers lightly pressed against her dress as her thoughts began to drift further.
Her cheeks slowly turned red, and her expression softened in a way that showed she was no longer paying attention to anything around her.
'Maybe I should buy something tighter…'
Her imagination continued to move, building scenes in her mind one after another.
The advice Elena had given her earlier echoed faintly, making her even more flustered.
'Come back quickly… my sweet husband… your wife is…'
She paused.
Her thoughts stopped suddenly, like she had just realized something.
A look of shock crossed her face, followed quickly by embarrassment.
Her cheeks flushed deeper, and she looked down for a moment, clearly troubled by her own thoughts.
'What am I even thinking?'
She frowned at herself.
'My husband is returning after three months of war… and I'm thinking about that?'
She shook her head slightly, her lips pressing together.
"Stupid…" she muttered under her breath.
Her hand moved to her forehead as if scolding herself.
'How did I turn into such a woman…? Getting excited only for that…'
She let out a quiet breath, trying to calm her thoughts, though the faint redness on her face refused to disappear completely.
As everyone stood waiting, time slowly passed.
The morning air, which had once felt cool and gentle, began to warm little by little.
The soft light of early day grew brighter, and before anyone truly noticed it, the sun had already climbed high above them.
Its light now fell directly over the large gate and the open space around it, casting short shadows beneath their feet.
Noon had arrived.
The breeze still moved through the trees, but it was warmer now, carrying the quiet sound of leaves brushing against each other.
The long wait had stretched on, and even though no one said it out loud at first, the delay was starting to be felt.
Edward shifted his weight from one foot to the other, clearly unable to stay still for too long.
His earlier pacing had stopped thanks to Salena, but the restless energy inside him had not disappeared.
His eyes kept drifting toward the gate, then to the road beyond it, then back again.
Charlotte, who had been quietly watching the gate all this time, finally spoke.
"Edward…" she called, her voice calm but carrying a slight edge of impatience.
She turned her head toward him, her brows pulling together just a little. "Why are they taking so long?"
Edward blinked once, then let out a small hum as he thought about it.
His hand moved up to his chin, rubbing it lightly as if trying to recall something clearly.
"Hmm…" he said, looking slightly to the side.
"I saw them earlier through the telescope on the wall."
He paused for a moment, thinking carefully.
"They were on horseback," he continued, nodding to himself.
"I think that's why it's taking longer."
Charlotte listened quietly, then gave a small nod.
Her gaze returned to the gate once more.
Their estate was not close to the outer boundary.
It stretched over a vast distance, with long roads and wide lands separating the entrance from the main residence.
If Edward had seen them far away earlier, then it made sense that it would take time for them to arrive.
And if they had been traveling with an army before, it also made sense that they would not all come in together.
Most likely, they had been allowed to return ahead to their family.
Charlotte let out a soft breath.
Her fingers gently rested against her dress as her thoughts began to drift again.
A faint feeling settled in her chest… something soft, something quiet.
Longing.
Over the past five years, the time she had spent with him had been very little.
For someone like Charlotte, who held onto her feelings so strongly, it was not easy.
She would normally have become restless, even frustrated.
But somewhere along the way, she had gotten used to turning that impatience into something else. Something softer.
Something she could smile about instead of complain over.
So she didn't let herself think too deeply about it.
Instead, she focused on what was coming.
'When he returns…'
Her eyes softened slightly, and a small smile appeared on her lips.
'He will definitely be tired…'
Her thoughts began to line up one after another, slowly forming a plan in her mind.
'I will help him bathe first…'
Her fingers moved slightly as if she was already imagining it.
'Then I will help him change… and prepare food for him…'
Her cheeks slowly turned red again, though she tried to keep her expression normal.
'After that, he can rest… and when he wakes up, we can talk…'
Her thoughts paused for just a moment.
'Then…'
'And then… we can do those husband and wife things…'
Her face turned even redder, and she quickly looked down, clearly flustered by her own imagination.
"…Only if he wants to," she added quietly in her thoughts, trying to calm herself down.
She took a small breath and straightened her posture.
"Alright," she whispered under her breath, as if she had just finalized something important.
Meanwhile, the others continued to wait.
The silence stretched again, though it was not uncomfortable.
And then…
Not long after…
Something changed.
A faint movement appeared in the distance.
At first, it was barely noticeable.
Just two small shapes far beyond the gate, moving slowly along the long road that led toward the estate.
Edward was the first to notice.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward just a little.
"…There," he said softly.
Everyone's attention shifted at once.
Charlotte straightened, her eyes locking onto the distant figures.
Elena's expression sharpened, her calm gaze becoming focused.
Even Vikel lifted his head slightly, his attention drawn forward.
The shapes grew clearer as they came closer.
Two horses.
No army followed behind them. No long line of soldiers.
Just the two of them, riding side by side.
The distance between them and the gate slowly closed.
Step by step, the sound of hooves became faintly audible, mixing with the quiet air around them.
And then…
As they came close enough for their figures to be seen clearly…
A loud voice echoed across the entrance.
"Duke Vined D Zenithara and young lord, Vivian D Zenithara have returned!"
